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Job Description:

Job purpose

The Senior Manager of Partnerships & Planning is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Sponsorship & Philanthropy partnerships across the region AND ensuring the successful planning of Asia’s regional marketing activity in line with the Corporate planning process.

It requires a dynamic approach to developing strategies and programs ensuring quality, consistency, and adherence to plans and of marketing materials to the brand positioning and corporate guidelines.

Reporting to the Head of Brand and Marketing for Asia, this individual is responsible for three primary objectives:

• Contribute to the growth in brand health (60% by 2028) through Sponsorship and affinity partnership activities.

• Leverage the marketing planning process to provide consultation and support to our marketing teams across Asia, to help them deliver on, measure, and surpass their marketing / campaign targets.

• Lead and develop the regional Philanthropy strategy, aligning to corporate objective and wider sustainability effort. Deliver and maintain regional governance and approvals of Asia Philanthropic spends and continually work towards aligning and simplifying our donations effort to maximise its impact.

The ideal candidate will be collaborative and have the gravatas to manage numerous senior stakeholders both internally (across Corporate, Regional and Local businesses) and externally (with agencies and partners) to understand business needs and how each function operates and its specific objectives which guides clarity, enables challenge and optimization on plans as well to provide sound support on sponsorship and philanthropic activities.

Responsibilities

Sponsorship Development and Management

• Establish a regional sponsorship strategy and program that aligns and supports the brand strategy, ensuring alignment and cohesion between them both to establish Sun Life Asia as an iconic brand.

• Leverage on the global sponsorship priorities to develop a regional program that grows and elevates our brand profile and supports bringing our purpose to life under the regional framework, local activation model.

• Leverage existing sponsorships and lead and guide the countries to seek new forms of sponsorships that will enhance the value and maximize the investment to their full potential, ensuring a diverse range of sponsorships are in-play that have alignment with the different target client segments, building awareness of the brand in each.

• Coach and guide countries on the establishment of the local activation programs to ensure the sponsorship programs (events, marketing, competitions, etc.) are maximizing the investment and lifting our brand position while keeping in context with the local business and positioning.

• Partner with colleagues across the business to ensure that various regional and local sponsorship events are planned ahead, avoiding overlaps and timing conflicts within the countries.

• Establish a best practice framework to enable countries to ensure a robust and cohesive approach to establishing and managing strategic sponsorship activity.

• Lead and manage regional relationships, negotiations and contracts and ensure the best interests of Sun Life are being considered, and support and guide the countries in this respect.

• Establish a structured program to measure effectiveness of the sponsorship activities, constantly evaluating the benefits of each and the return on investment.

• Develop and leverage strategic sponsorships and philanthropic initiatives to positively impact the how employees feel about Sun Life, showcasing a commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.

Marketing Planning

• Manage the annual campaign planning process in Asia, driving the business units to deliver excellence in the planning process, timing, and quality of media purchasing and performance.

• Coach and guide countries on the establishment of the local plans that deliver across CXM and delivery to the stated business strategy.

• Ensure Finance and strategy teams planning efforts are included, reflected and aligned to both RO and Local teams’ plans.

• Support the Head of Brand and Marketing in developing strategies that advance Sun Life Asia’s brand & overall marketing campaign objectives.

• Support with the reporting requirements to Corporate and local teams to ensure plan delivery and governance.

Philanthropy

• Lead the development of the Philanthropy programs across the region in a cohesive way, bringing elements together that echo the brand, sponsorship activity.

• Leverage existing philanthropy programs and seek new ones that will bring the philanthropy strategy to life in Asia.

• Partner with brand and marketing teams across the region to design new philanthropic programs and initiatives that deliver against our brand promise.

• Liaise with corporate office regarding partnership developments.

Brand & Marketing

• Lead as required various marketing support programs such as internal marketing templates, sales support tools, distribution marketing, etc

• Coordinate and run special programs as requested, ensuring cohesive approach and synergy across various channels and business units.

Sustainability

• Work with global sustainability leads to ensure that that all Asia achievements are documented and effectively reported.

Other

• Work closely with the CX&M leads as well CCDO and distribution for cohesive messaging and brand positioning.

• Support regional events as required.

• Ensure the use of budget is wisely allocated to gain maximum benefit from the investment in line with the plan.

• Coordinate various aspects with Corporate Communications as required.

• Take a collaborative approach to working with various functions across the business and region.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in Asia and working in a regional role. Good understanding of the market diversity between Asia markets and able to work with teams with cultural diversity.

• Knowledge in sponsorship development and management; and how to translate the sponsorship strategy into plans e.g. targeted programs , creative activation and effective use of media .

• Strong relationship building and influencing skills, able to take a regional approach and influence across various levels of an organization.

• Track record of change management and strong project management skills

• Excellent innovation , negotiation , networking and relationship management skills

• Full understanding and knowledge of product development and marketing ; and how to establish, plan and launch impactful launch campaigns effectively.

Qualifications:

• University Degree, preferably in business, marketing, advertising, media or communications.

• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience in branding, sponsorship and digital marketing in insurance, banking or financial services industries in which at least 2 years at managerial level.

Job Category:

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